Murphy – A coordinated effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and N.C. Department of Health is underway to help stop the spread of rabies in the region.
Beginning Monday, teams will distribute more than 600,000 oral rabies vaccine baits across multiple western North Carolina counties, including Cherokee.
What to expect
• Baits are small (about the size of a matchbox) and coated with a fishmeal scent to attract raccoons.
• They may be dropped from aircraft or placed by hand in certain areas.
• The vaccine is safe and designed to immunize raccoons against rabies.
This program has been in place since 2005 and plays a critical role in protecting people, pets and wildlife by preventing the spread of raccoon rabies.
What you should do
• Avoid touching the baits if you see them.
• Keep pets from disturbing or eating them.
• Report any strange-acting animals to local animal control or call 866-4-USDA-WS.
Increasing the number of vaccinated raccoons creates a natural barrier that helps stop rabies from spreading further, according to wildlife experts.